Omega-3 offers hope for new anti-breast cancer drugs

Omega-3, the fatty acid found in oily fish, could be combined with a commonly
used anesthetic to develop drugs to treat breast cancer, according to research
published today in the journal Breast Cancer Research. Compounds of Omega-3
fatty acids and propofol reduce the ability of breast cancer cells to develop
into malignant tumours, inhibiting cancer cell migration by 50% and
significantly reducing their metastatic activity. These new compounds could be
developed into a new family of anti-cancer drugs.


Dr Rafat Siddiqui, from the Methodist Research Institute and Indiana University
in Indianapolis, and his colleagues studied the effect of two Omega-3 fatty
acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), combined
with propofol on a breast cancer cell line in vitro. Omega-3 fatty acids such
as DHA and EPA have a minimal effect on cancer cells when applied alone.
Propofol is a potent anti-oxidant known to inhibit cancer cell migration by only
5-10%.


The results of the study show that propofol and DHA or EPA have a much more
significant effect on cancer cells when used in combination, as conjugates, than
when used alone. The conjugates inhibit cancer cell adhesion by 15% and 30%
respectively, reduce cell migration by 50% and increase apoptosis by 40%.


"These results suggest that the novel propofol-DHA and propofol-EPA conjugates
reported here may be useful for the treatment of breast cancer" conclude
Siddiqui and colleagues.


Malignant cancer cells are highly invasive cells that have lost the ability to
sense cues from their environment. As a result, they start dividing abnormally,
migrate and accumulate into malignant tumours, in a process called metastasis,
which is potentially life-threatening. The aim of anti-cancer drugs is therefore
to prevent the cells from dividing abnormally and from spreading, to kill the
cells, or to cause the cells to kill themselves.


Fatty acids are often attached to drugs, because they facilitate the absorption
of the drugs by the cells. Siddiqui and colleagues explain that DHA and EPA
might have had this effect on propofol. They add "It is possible that these
conjugates provide a mechanism whereby propofol can be retained in cell
membranes for a longer duration and therefore enhance its anticancer effects".


Omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in oily fish such as tuna, salmon,
herring, sardines and mackerel, are already known to have many positive health
benefits. They are commonly recommended for maintaining a healthy heart, as they
are known to reduce cholesterol levels and thought to help prevent
cardiovascular disease. Research suggests that Omega-3 may also protect against
arthritis, lupus, and asthma and help people with biopolar disorder.


This press release is based on the article:

Anticancer properties of propofol-docosahexaenoate and
propofol-eicosapentaenoate on breast cancer cells

Rafat A Siddiqui1, Mustapha Zerouga, Min Wu, Alicia Castillo, Kevin Harvey,

Gary P Zaloga and William Stillwell

Breast Cancer Research 2005, 7:R645-R654 (7 June 2005)


This article is available free of charge, according to Breast Cancer Research's Open Access policy at breast-cancer-research/content/pdf/bcr1036.pdf


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